Categories
United Kingdom

 July 29, 1949 – Weather charts appear again on television

Seventy seven years ago, on this day, July  29th, 1949,

Meanwhile, television (TV) broadcasting had recommenced after the war. On 29 July 1949, weather charts appeared again on TV, the first of them at the end of that evening’s programmes, broadcast from a BBC studio in London. Two captioned charts were displayed, one showing isobars ‘today’, the other the distribution of isobars forecast for ‘tomorrow’. The BBC’s duty announcer, out of vision, read a forecast prepared and supplied by the Office.

 Malcolm Walker History of Meteorological Office

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was 311ppm. As of 2026, when this post was published, it is 430ppm. This matters because the more carbon dioxide in the air, the more heat gets trapped. The more heat, the more extreme weather events. You can make it more complicated than that if you want, but really, it’s not. Fwiw, I have a tattoo of the Keeling Curve on my left forearm.

The broader context was that there’d been a war, so television and weather charts for public consumption were not “a thing” as the young people used to say.

The specific context was the history of the Met Office is crucial in all this (understanding UK understandings and misunderstandings of climate change).

What I think we can learn from this – well, I will confess this is one for the trainspotters, like me.

What happened next – questions about carbon dioxide build-up were there, in the background, through the 1950s and 1960s.  They only finally turned from problem to issue in 1988.

On this topic, you might like these other posts on All Our Yesterdays

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References

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You can see the chronological list of All Our Yesterdays “on this day” posts here.

What do you think? Does this pass the ‘so what?’ threshold? Have I got facts wrong? Interpretation wrong? Please do comment on this post, unless you are a denialist, obvs.

If you want to get involved, let me know.

If you want to invite me on your podcast, that would boost my ego and probably improve the currently pitiful hit-rate on this site (the two are not-unrelated).

Also on this day: 

July 29, 1974 – the World (will be heating) according to GARP 

July 29, 2009 – Climate for Innovation: Technology and IP for Global Climate Solutions” wins the climate bingo award 

July 29, 2013 – unreadable denialist screed published. 

July 29, 2023 – Sunak all in on oil and gas drilling 

Categories
United States of America

July 28, 1981 – “Will the polar icecaps melt?” (Why yes, yes they will…)

Forty five years ago, on this day, July 28, 1981, Michael Schlesinger gives a talk on “Carbon dioxide proliferation: Will the polar icecaps melt?”

https://www.atmos.illinois.edu/~schlesin/cv.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20120426140635/https://www.atmos.illinois.edu/~schlesin/cv.pdf

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was 340ppm. As of 2026, when this post was published, it is 430ppm. This matters because the more carbon dioxide in the air, the more heat gets trapped. The more heat, the more extreme weather events. You can make it more complicated than that if you want, but really, it’s not. Fwiw, I have a tattoo of the Keeling Curve on my left forearm.

The broader context was that from the early 1950s, when Gilbert Plass (building on the work of Arrhenius and Callendar) pointed out that burning fossil fuels would lead to sea-level rise etc, scientists (many American, but also other nations) had been beavering away.  By the mid-late 1970s, it was all become clear enough for scientists to be going puce.

The specific context was the first World Climate Conference had happened in Geneva, and a flurry of meetings and conferences was also taking place. Those in the know, knew.

What I think we can learn from this – we can’t say we were not warned.

What happened next – more emissions, higher concentrations. We slipped into the Fafocene without even really understanding it.

On this topic, you might like these other posts on All Our Yesterdays

See also John Mercer’s landmark 1978 article in Nature.

References

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You can see the chronological list of All Our Yesterdays “on this day” posts here.

What do you think? Does this pass the ‘so what?’ threshold? Have I got facts wrong? Interpretation wrong? Please do comment on this post, unless you are a denialist, obvs.

If you want to get involved, let me know.

If you want to invite me on your podcast, that would boost my ego and probably improve the currently pitiful hit-rate on this site (the two are not-unrelated).

Also on this day: 

July 28, 1970 – American journalist warns about melting the icecaps… 

July 28, 1990 – science writer John Gribbin explains why caution is wrong on global warming 

July 28, 1990 – American #climate denial comes to London 

July 28, 2003 – James Inhofe shares his genius 

July 28, 2005 – AP6 announced 

Categories
Papua New Guinea

 July 27, 1976 – Papua New Guinea paper says “Climate Research vital”

Fifty years ago, on this day, July 27, 1976,

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was 332ppm. As of 2026, when this post was published, it is 430ppm. This matters because the more carbon dioxide in the air, the more heat gets trapped. The more heat, the more extreme weather events. You can make it more complicated than that if you want, but really, it’s not. Fwiw, I have a tattoo of the Keeling Curve on my left forearm.

The broader context was that from the late 1960s onwards, there was a marked uptick in work on global atmospheric change, especially in Europe and the US.

The specific context was that by about 1976 people on either side of the iron curtain were beginning to look closely at carbon dioxide build-up.

What I think we can learn from this –  fifty bloody years

What happened next. The 1979 First World Climate Conference could have been the tipping point, but it wasn’t. Oh well.

On this topic, you might like these other posts on All Our Yesterdays

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References

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You can see the chronological list of All Our Yesterdays “on this day” posts here.

What do you think? Does this pass the ‘so what?’ threshold? Have I got facts wrong? Interpretation wrong? Please do comment on this post, unless you are a denialist, obvs.

If you want to get involved, let me know.

If you want to invite me on your podcast, that would boost my ego and probably improve the currently pitiful hit-rate on this site (the two are not-unrelated).

Also on this day: 

July 27, 1977 – Pro-nuclear professor cites #climate concerns at Adelaide speech 

July 27, 1979 – Thatcher’s Cabinet ponders burying climate report 

July 27, 1988 – The greenback effect 

July 27, 2001 – COP6-bis ends – the show is back on the road 

July 27, 2001 – Minerals Council of Australia versus the Kyoto Protocol 

Categories
Australia

July 27, 1976 – a South Australian Hudson speaks out on climate change!!

Fifty years ago, on this day, July 27, 1976, South Australian Labor minister Hugh Hudson (no relation) has this to say during a Parliamentary debate – 

“I have heard over the past few weeks environmental arguments against any form of providing energy. It is argued that, even if we use up our existing fossil fuel reserves, we are running serious environmental dangers through the excess emission of carbon dioxide, which may or may not increase the temperature of the earth. Of course, I believe it can be demonstrated that if the temperature of the earth rises by as much as one degree or two degrees, the ice caps will start to melt and cities such as Adelaide will turn out to be inappropriately located. It is important, in this energy debate, to recognise that we cannot discuss one form of energy in isolation.

Every form of energy creation has advantages and disadvantages, and a balance must be struck.”

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was 332ppm. As of 2026, when this post was published, it is 430ppm. This matters because the more carbon dioxide in the air, the more heat gets trapped. The more heat, the more extreme weather events. You can make it more complicated than that if you want, but really, it’s not. Fwiw, I have a tattoo of the Keeling Curve on my left forearm.

The broader context was a huge uranium deposit had been discovered in South Australia’s mid-north and there was a lot of debate about whether uranium should be exported or not (fears of proliferation, safety etc etc).

What I think we can learn from this – carbon dioxide build-up was being spoken of even in the provinces (Hudson was no relation, btw).

What happened next. In 1982 a Labor politician switched sides on the vote, the legislation to let Roxby Downs get established passed, and the Opposition leader (John Bannon) flagged that a Bannon administration would not try to turn the clock back… 

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On this topic, you might like these other posts on All Our Yesterdays

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References

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You can see the chronological list of All Our Yesterdays “on this day” posts here.

What do you think? Does this pass the ‘so what?’ threshold? Have I got facts wrong? Interpretation wrong? Please do comment on this post, unless you are a denialist, obvs.

If you want to get involved, let me know.

If you want to invite me on your podcast, that would boost my ego and probably improve the currently pitiful hit-rate on this site (the two are not-unrelated).

Also on this day: 

July 27, 1977 – Pro-nuclear professor cites #climate concerns at Adelaide speech 

July 27, 1979 – Thatcher’s Cabinet ponders burying climate report 

July 27, 1988 – The greenback effect 

July 27, 2001 – COP6-bis ends – the show is back on the road 

July 27, 2001 – Minerals Council of Australia versus the Kyoto Protocol 

Categories
Australia

July 26, 1988 –  Government officials start to feel the climate of change.

Thirty eight years ago, on this day, July  26, 1988,

CLIMATE

The greenhouse effect took priority when representatives of Australia’s Federal, State and Territory governments met yesterday at World Expo ’88 to discuss water resources.

Although the Australian Water Resources Council decided only to “maintain a watching brief”, the educative process among political and administrative leaders is nevertheless gathering pace.

The Queensland Premier, Mr Ahern, has now established a government departmental committee in an attempt to identify the issues of the global warm-up.

Massey, M. 1988. Government officials start to feel the climate of change.  Australian Financial Review,  July 27.

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was 351ppm. As of 2026, when this post was published, it is 430ppm. This matters because the more carbon dioxide in the air, the more heat gets trapped. The more heat, the more extreme weather events. You can make it more complicated than that if you want, but really, it’s not. Fwiw, I have a tattoo of the Keeling Curve on my left forearm.

The broader context was that there had been warnings (ignored) all through the 1970s and 1980s about what was coming. Finally, after the Villach meeting in 1985, the pressure had built until, in 1988 the issue began to break through.  There had been a drought in the US, James Hansen’s testimony and then the Changing Atmosphere conference in Toronto.

The specific context was the Australian government was being kept informed, thanks in part to the work of Barry Jones, Science Minister.

What I think we can learn from this – this was the very small window of ‘we will take positive action’ before, from 1990 or so, the shutters came down.

What happened next  The Liberal Party went to the 1990 Federal election with a more ambitious emissions target than Labor, but lost the election and blamed the big green organisations (especially the Australian Conservation Foundation) for ‘betraying’ them.  Climate change became part of the culture wars, and Labor then completely bollocksed it all up from 2007 to 2010. The well has been poisoned ever since, not that they give a rat’s arse, clearly.

On this topic, you might like these other posts on All Our Yesterdays

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References

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You can see the chronological list of All Our Yesterdays “on this day” posts here.

What do you think? Does this pass the ‘so what?’ threshold? Have I got facts wrong? Interpretation wrong? Please do comment on this post, unless you are a denialist, obvs.

If you want to get involved, let me know.

If you want to invite me on your podcast, that would boost my ego and probably improve the currently pitiful hit-rate on this site (the two are not-unrelated).

Also on this day: 

July 26, 1967 – Allen Ginsberg tells Gary Snyder it’s “a general lemming situation” 

July 26, 1977 – Australians warned about cities being flooded #CanberraTimes 

July 26, 1988, – Australian uranium sellers foresee boom times… 

July 26, 2006 – Costello versus wind farms 

July 26, 2008 – Reggae festival for climate protection in New York 

Categories
Australia

 July 26, 1956 –  Melbourne Age and climate change

Seventy years ago, on this day, July  11st, 1956,

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was 314ppm. As of 2026, when this post was published, it is 430ppm. This matters because the more carbon dioxide in the air, the more heat gets trapped. The more heat, the more extreme weather events. You can make it more complicated than that if you want, but really, it’s not. Fwiw, I have a tattoo of the Keeling Curve on my left forearm.

The broader context was that in May 1953, Canadian physicist Gilbert Plass, building on the work of Svante Arrhenius and Guy Callendar, had catalyzed the world (well, a few scientists) into wondering and working on the question of carbon dioxide build-up.

Roger Revelle was already a Big Fish by this time, and was in the process of getting serious money out of the US government for the International Geophysical Year.

The specific context was the Australians were an integral part of the IGY.  I suspect someone in the IGY press team planted this story with the journo, or gave him access.

What I think we can learn from this – by 1956, carbon dioxide stories were appearing in the Australian press

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What happened next. The IGY happened from 1957 to the end of 1958. Huge amounts of data were gathered.

Through the 1960s and 1970s Revelle would return to the theme of carbon dioxide build-up, but as one of the ‘cautious’ commentators (too cautious, we now know).

xxx

On this topic, you might like these other posts on All Our Yesterdays

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References

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You can see the chronological list of All Our Yesterdays “on this day” posts here.

What do you think? Does this pass the ‘so what?’ threshold? Have I got facts wrong? Interpretation wrong? Please do comment on this post, unless you are a denialist, obvs.

If you want to get involved, let me know.

If you want to invite me on your podcast, that would boost my ego and probably improve the currently pitiful hit-rate on this site (the two are not-unrelated).

Also on this day: 

July 26, 1967 – Allen Ginsberg tells Gary Snyder it’s “a general lemming situation” 

July 26, 1977 – Australians warned about cities being flooded #CanberraTimes 

July 26, 1988, – Australian uranium sellers foresee boom times… 

July 26, 2006 – Costello versus wind farms 

July 26, 2008 – Reggae festival for climate protection in New York 

Categories
Australia

July 25,  1933 – lecture in Melbourne –  “Carbon Dioxide Could Change World”.   

On this day, July 25, 1933, a Queensland newspaper reports that WJ Chamberlain has given a lecture to students in Melbourne about carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. 

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was 307ppm. As of 2026, when this post was published, it is 430ppm. This matters because the more carbon dioxide in the air, the more heat gets trapped. The more heat, the more extreme weather events. You can make it more complicated than that if you want, but really, it’s not. Fwiw, I have a tattoo of the Keeling Curve on my left forearm.

The broader context was that in the 19th century it had been established that carbonic acid/carbon dioxide acted as a greenhouse gas (by Eunice Foote – though nobody remembered this, and by John Tyndall). In the 1890s Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius had calculated that a doubling of CO2 would raise temperatures, but thought this would be fine – it would take thousands of years.

The specific context was that although Arrhenius’s calculations had been (wrongly) discounted, the idea was still there.

What I think we can learn from this – the story of carbon dioxide awareness is more complex than we think.  

What happened next – Chamberlain took to the airwaves the following month.  

On this topic, you might like these other posts on All Our Yesterdays

You can see the chronological list of All Our Yesterdays “on this day” posts here.

What do you think? Does this pass the ‘so what?’ threshold? Have I got facts wrong? Interpretation wrong? Please do comment on this post, unless you are a denialist, obvs.

If you want to get involved, let me know.

If you want to invite me on your podcast, that would boost my ego and probably improve the currently pitiful hit-rate on this site (the two are not-unrelated).

Also on this day: 

July 24, 1977 – Climate change as red light? “No, but flashing yellow.” 

July 24, 1980 – “Global 2000” report released. 

July 24, 2001 – Running from the Storm? Nah, we’re slouching towards it 

July 24, 2011 – Rubbery numbers about Gillard’s carbon pricing proposal are disputed… 

Categories
United States of America

July 25,  1977 – the Ironwood Daily Globe tells the truth

Forty-nine years ago, on this day, July  25th, 1977,

In reporting the “Energy and Climate” study, the Ironwood Daily Globe (Ironwood, Michigan) ·of Mon, 25 Jul 1977 tells the truth on page 1.

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was 333ppm. As of 2026, when this post was published, it is 430ppm. This matters because the more carbon dioxide in the air, the more heat gets trapped. The more heat, the more extreme weather events. You can make it more complicated than that if you want, but really, it’s not. Fwiw, I have a tattoo of the Keeling Curve on my left forearm.

The broader context was

that newspapers had been writing stories about carbon dioxide build up for over twenty years by this point. A flurry in the 1950s, mostly around Gilbert Plass’s work and then the studies before and during the International Geophysical Year. Then frequency had dipped a bit, but picked up in the late 1960s.

The specific context was that a two year study by the National Academies of Sciences, on ‘Energy and Climate’ had been released with some fan-fair.

What I think we can learn from this – this news was not restricted to the coastal elites – those in ‘flyover country’ were aware too,

What happened next

There was an effort to get the carbon dioxide issue onto the agenda by a host of scientists (and also the geologist William Barbat). It failed not because they weren’t smart or talented enough, but because, well Thatcher, but then Reagan and his goons. It was not until 1988 that the problem finally became an issue.

On this topic, you might like these other posts on All Our Yesterdays

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References

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You can see the chronological list of All Our Yesterdays “on this day” posts here.

What do you think? Does this pass the ‘so what?’ threshold? Have I got facts wrong? Interpretation wrong? Please do comment on this post, unless you are a denialist, obvs.

If you want to get involved, let me know.

If you want to invite me on your podcast, that would boost my ego and probably improve the currently pitiful hit-rate on this site (the two are not-unrelated).

Also on this day: 

July 25, 1977 – New York Times front page story “scientists foresee serious climate changes”

July 25, 1989 – “Mineral Fuel Alternatives and the Greenhouse Effect” 

July 25, 1989 – Australian Environment Minister admits was blocked by Treasurer on emissions reduction target 

July 25, 1996 – Australian PM John Howard as fossil-fuel puppet 

July 25, 1997 – US says, in effect, “screw our promises, screw the planet” 

July 25, 2001 – Australian Environment Minister says the quiet part out loud about Kyoto 

July 25, 2008 – More economic “modelling” against an emissions trading scheme  

Categories
Uncategorized

July 25,  1972 – “How big is the sink?” asks Sydney Morning Herald hack, flagging CO2… 

Fifty six years ago, on this day, July  25th, 1972, Australian journalist Peter Hastings  ponders ‘how big is the sink?’

25 July 1972 How Big is the Sink Sydney Morning Herald article abt world resources

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was 326ppm. As of 2026, when this post was published, it is 430ppm. This matters because the more carbon dioxide in the air, the more heat gets trapped. The more heat, the more extreme weather events. You can make it more complicated than that if you want, but really, it’s not. Fwiw, I have a tattoo of the Keeling Curve on my left forearm.

The broader context was questions of how much you could exploit fragile eco-systems before they bit your ass were hardly new in Australia.

The specific context was from the late 1960s those questions had been global ones. 1972 had seen the release of Blueprint for Survival and the Limits to Growth, as well as the Stockholm conference.  Questions of environmental ‘sustainability’ were still live (though would fade markedly).

What I think we can learn from this – Carbon dioxide was in the mix!!

What happened next – the issue faded by 1973 (fatigue and then the Oil embargo/Price increases).

On this topic, you might like these other posts on All Our Yesterdays

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References

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You can see the chronological list of All Our Yesterdays “on this day” posts here.

What do you think? Does this pass the ‘so what?’ threshold? Have I got facts wrong? Interpretation wrong? Please do comment on this post, unless you are a denialist, obvs.

If you want to get involved, let me know.

If you want to invite me on your podcast, that would boost my ego and probably improve the currently pitiful hit-rate on this site (the two are not-unrelated).

Also on this day: 

July 25, 1977 – New York Times front page story “scientists foresee serious climate changes”

July 25, 1989 – “Mineral Fuel Alternatives and the Greenhouse Effect” 

July 25, 1989 – Australian Environment Minister admits was blocked by Treasurer on emissions reduction target 

July 25, 1996 – Australian PM John Howard as fossil-fuel puppet 

July 25, 1997 – US says, in effect, “screw our promises, screw the planet” 

July 25, 2001 – Australian Environment Minister says the quiet part out loud about Kyoto 

July 25, 2008 – More economic “modelling” against an emissions trading scheme  

Categories
Australia

July 25, 1969 – “Frontiers of Science” cartoon on carbon dioxide build-up… – 

Fifty seven years ago, on this day, July  25th, 1969, the Frontiers of Science people – not for the first time – tackled climate change from carbon dioxide build-up.

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was xxxppm. As of 2026, when this post was published, it is 430ppm. This matters because the more carbon dioxide in the air, the more heat gets trapped. The more heat, the more extreme weather events. You can make it more complicated than that if you want, but really, it’s not. Fwiw, I have a tattoo of the Keeling Curve on my left forearm.

The broader context was that the “Frontiers of Science” cartoon series had been running in Fairfax newspapers for a few years. In January 1965 there had been a remarkably good strip about carbon dioxide build-up.

The specific context was that by mid-1969 carbon dioxide build-up was being mentioned in articles about air pollution, global problems. It was not a state secret.

What I think we can learn from this – by the late 1960s, we knew to watch out. We then did NOT watch out.

What happened next  – in September 1969 carbon dioxide build-up was mentioned in a Senate Report on Air Pollution, by various scientific luminaries on ABC radio and at an Australian Conservation Foundation seminar in Melbourne. The issue had arrived.

On this topic, you might like these other posts on All Our Yesterdays

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References

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You can see the chronological list of All Our Yesterdays “on this day” posts here.

What do you think? Does this pass the ‘so what?’ threshold? Have I got facts wrong? Interpretation wrong? Please do comment on this post, unless you are a denialist, obvs.

If you want to get involved, let me know.

If you want to invite me on your podcast, that would boost my ego and probably improve the currently pitiful hit-rate on this site (the two are not-unrelated).

Also on this day: 

July 25, 1977 – New York Times front page story “scientists foresee serious climate changes”

July 25, 1989 – Australian Environment Minister admits was blocked by Treasurer on emissions reduction target

July 25, 1989 – “Mineral Fuel Alternatives and the Greenhouse Effect” 

July 25, 1996 – Australian PM John Howard as fossil-fuel puppet

July 25, 1997 – US says, in effect, “screw our promises, screw the planet”

July 25, 2001 – Australian Environment Minister says the quiet part out loud about Kyoto 

July 25, 2008 – More economic “modelling” against an emissions trading scheme – All Our Yesterdays